Slide fastener



B. R. AUSTIN SLIDE FASTENER Jan. 20, 1953 2 SHEETS-SHEET l Filed Aug. 4, 1949 INVENTOR-` qymmim Jan. 20, 1953 B. R. AUSTIN SLIDE FASTENER 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Filed Aug. 4, 1949 INVENTOR.

tapes.

vits fields of use.

Patented Jan. 20, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in slide fasteners'of the type commonly referred to as Zipper fasteners.

A slide fastener of the type to which theinvention relatesconsists essentially of a pair of flexible tapes provided with scoops and a slider for meshing and unmeshing the scoops for respectively attaching and separating the flexible It 'is conventional to provide some means for securing the tapes together at what is com- Y.rnonly referred to as the startingiend of the fastener. This securing Ameans usually consists of a pin on the starting end of one ofthe tapes and some vform'of retainer for the pin on the corresponding end of the other tape. Conventional slide fasteners have not included means .for separating the tape and the starting end except when the slider has reached its limit of movement toward the starting end. Unintentional separation `of the tapes and unmeshing of the scoops at the starting end lof a conventional slide fastener (in which the scoops can vbe meshed in 'only one direction of travel'of the slider) renders the fastener inoperative for the reason that the slider can not -be moved along the tapes toward the starting end except while the scoops are meshed.

.It has heretofore been proposed to provide means which permits intentional separation of the tapes at the starting end of the `fastener in order to make the fastener more versatile in Examples of such proposals will be found in my prior UnitedStates Patents 2,146,714 of February 14, 1939, 2,263,481 of November 18, 1941, and 2,463,937`of March 8, 1949.

Slide fasteners of the type illustrated in the foregoing patents are particularly advantageous for use 'on Wearing apparel such as coats, jackets, and the like. These arrangements permit 'complete closure of the fastener or partial closure s along a desired portion of the length of the fastener. Many of the advantages of the use of buttons on such apparel are thus obtained withoiit sacrificing the advantages of slide fasteners.

:In improved slide fasteners of the type here under consideration, the pin on one of the tapes at the starting end of the fastener 'may be" int'entionally separated from its retainer While the yslider is at any intermediate position along the length of the fastener or While the slider is at the 'terminal end of the fastener. This separation permits unmeshing of the scoops and separation of the tapes from the starting end of the fastener 'to the slider. The more conventional type of slide fasteners has scoops which can be ynal end of ythe fastener.

sociated scoops from the slider. then be returned to the starting end of the fasmeshed -in only one direction of travel vof the slider and after the foregoing separation occurs, Vitt-is impossible to move the slider along both tapes .toward the starting end of the fastener. -The slider. can, however, be-moved to the termi- -Some means must be provided at the terminal end of the fastener to permit release of one vof the tapes and its as- 'Ihe slider can tener along the tape with which it remains as- `sociated.

fastener. If no 'scoops were provided on the `other tape along the portion of its length corresponding to the position of the stop, this other tape could -be removed from the slider by merely withdrawing it laterally therefrom While the slider was in engagement with the stop. However, the absence of scoops along this portion of the length of one of the tapes gives the fastener a damaged or unfinished appearance which makes the fastener yobjectionable or unacceptable to lthe trade. Such an arrangement also has the objection that it is possible for the tape havingno scoopslalong va portion of its length to become unintentionally separated from the slider'while the slider is at the terminal end of the fastener and While it is desired vto maintain the fastener closed along its entire length. It is possible to reduce the likelihood of this unintentional separation by placing a semi-stop on the tape which resists movement of the slider thereover but which permits such movement when sufficient force is intentionally exerted on the slider. The use of such a semi-stop causes excessive stresses rto 'be applied to the tape and results in undue Wear and frayin'g of the tape.

yThe primary objects ofthe present invention are to provide an arrangement Vfor slide fasteners of 'the'ty'pe discussed above which permits intentional separation of one tape 'from the slider While the slider vis at the terminal end 'of the fastener, 'which 'reduces the likelihood of unin- 'are referred vv`te in Vthe'fellovving detailed description which has reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation view of a slide fastener embodying one form of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary View partly in front elevation and partly in section showing the slider at the terminal end of the fastener illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig` 3 is a fragmentary view partly in front elevation and partly in section showing the starting end of the fastener illustrated in Fig. 1 and illustrating the pin in its retainer with the scoops in mesh;

Fig. 4 is a sectional View taken in the direction of the arrows along the line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the casing which forms the releasable pin retainer at the starting end of the fastener;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view partly in front elevation and partly in section of the starting end of slide fastener embodying a modied form of my invention;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken in the direction of the arrows along the line 1-1 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a perspective View of the member which is secured to one of the tapes and to which the casing is hinged in the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7;

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the casing which Y forms the releasable pin retainer in the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 6 and '7 Fig. 10 is a fragmentary View partly in front elevation and partly in section of the terminal Vend of a slide fastener embodying a further modification of the invention;

Fig. ll is a sectional view taken in the direction of the arrows along the line I I-I I of Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary view partly in front elevation and partly in section of the terminal end of a slide fastener embodying a further modification of my invention; and

Fig. 13 is a similar view of the arrangement shown in Fig. 12 but illustrating the elements in position for withdrawal of one of the tapes from the slider.

The forms of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5 include a first tape |5 and a .second ta'oe I6 which are preferably of conventional flexible textile material. The tape I5 is provided with scoops I1 which are arranged to mesh with the scoops I8 on the tane I6. A slider I9, which mav be conventional in this form of the invention, is provided for movement along the fastener for meshing and unmeshing` the scoops I1 and I8. A pin is secured to the tape I5 at the starting end of the fastener. The tape I6 is provided with a similar pin-like member 2|. A casing 22 is pivotally secured to the member 2| by any suitable means such as a rivet 23. The casing 22 is provided with a slot 24 for receiving the lower end of the tane I5 while the pin 20 is within the casing as illustrated in Fig. 3. The casing 22 may be pivoted from the position illustrated in Fig. 3 to the position illustrated in Fig. 1 and the pin 2U is then released from its retainer and the scoops I1 and |8 may be unmeshed and the tapes l5 and,

I6 separated from the starting end of the fastener to the slider I9.

The arrangement as thus far described is similar in its essential respects to one of the arrangements described and claimed in my above mentioned Patent No. 2,463,937 of March 8, 1949.

\ However, in the present form of the invention the upper end of the tape |6is provided with a slider stop 25 which is positioned closely adjacent the last scoop 8. The terminal end of the tape I5 is provided with a sleeve 26 which is positioned not quite opposite the stop 25, but a little nearer the starting end of the fastener. As illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, the upper end of the sleeve 26 is positioned approximately two scoops nearer the starting end of the fastener than the lower end of the stop 25, The sleeve 26 is also positioned closely adjacent the last of the scoops I1 on the tape I5. In other words, no appreciable gap is left between the sleeve 26 and the last scoop I'I.

The relative positions of the various elements including the stop 25 and the sleeve 26 when the slider is at the terminal end of the fastener are best illustrated in Fig. 2. This figure illustrates the scoops I 1 and I8 unmeshed. This unmeshing has been accomplished by pivoting the casing 22, releasing the pin 20, unmeshing the scoops |1 and I8, and separating the tapes I5 and |16 from the starting` end of the fastener to the slider positioned at the terminal end of the fastener. With the elements as illustrated in Fig. 2, the sleeve 26 may be withdrawn from the slider I9 by merely moving the tape I5 in the direction of the arrow 21. This permits complete separation of the tapes I5 and I6. The slider |9 may then be moved to the starting end of the fastener along the tape I6 and the scoops I8. The fastener is then in condition for reuse, it being only necessary to pivot the casing 22 to the pin retaining position shown in Fig. 3.

Figs. 6 to 9 illustrate a modied arrangement for the starting end of the slide fastener. The tape 28 is provided with a pin 29. Tape 30 is provided with a pin-like member 3| having wings or flanges 32 projecting laterally therefrom on opposite slides of the tape. The member 3| is provided with apertures 33 in which the casing 34 is pivoted. The casing 34 is provided with a slot 35 for reception of the lower end of the tape 28. The side walls of the casing are stamped to provide inwardly extending lugs 36 which are received in the apertures 33 in the member 3| to tape 39 is provided with a stop 45 which may be conventional. The tape 4| is provided with a sleeve 42 which, in this instance, extends a substantial distance from the edge of the tape. The sleeve 42 has a projecting portion 43 which eX- ytends toward the starting end of the fastener.

vThe slider 44 has conventional flanges 45 between which are received the tape 39 and which engage the rear ends of the scoops 46 on that tape. The slider 44 also has flanges 41 which are of lesser length than the flanges 45. The length of the anges 41 and their positions are such that they are in juxtaposition to the projecting portion 43 of the sleeve 42 when the slider 44 engages the stop 4|). The relative positions just described are illustrated in Fig. 10. The pin may be released from its retainer at the starting end of the zipper and the tapes separated by unmeshing the scoops to the slider 44. 'Ihe tape 4I and the sleeve 42 may then be removed from the slider by moving the sleeve 42 in the direction of the arrow 48 which enables the projecting portion 43 of the sleeve to ride over the upper ends of the anges 41.

The further modification illustrated in Figs. l2 and 13 also relates to the arrangement at the terminal end of the fastener. The tape 49 is provided with a conventional stop 59. The tape 5| is provided with a sleeve 52 which is similar to the sleeve 42 but which has no projecting portion. The sleeve 52 is slightly spaced from the adjacent scoop 53 on the tape 5I. The slider 54 is provided with flanges 55 which terminate above the lower end of the slider. The slider is also provided with flanges 55 which extend from the bottom of the slider upwardly but which terminate below the level of the upper ends of the flanges 55. This arrangement is best illustrated in Fig. I2. The slider is shown in engagement with the stop 50 and the upper ends of the flanges 56 are disposed slightly below the sleeve 52. The tape 5| may be withdrawn from the slider 54 by tilting the slider in a counter-clockwise direction to the position illustrated in Fig. 13. The flanges 56 may then pass between the uppermost scoop 53 on the tape 5l and the lower edge of the sleeve 52.

In all illustrated forms of the invention the terminal end of the slider presents a finished and undamaged appearance which is acceptable to the trade. The instructions for using slide fasteners embodying my improvements are simple and can be followed by ordinary users without difficulty. The likelihood of unintentional separation of the fastener at its terminal end is minimized. No excessive force is required in any of the operations involved in the use of my slide fasteners and the danger of excessive wear or fraying of the tapes is greatly reduced.

I have illustrated and described what I now consider to be the preferred forms of my invention, but it is to be understood that various alterations and modifications may be resorted to without departing from the broader scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a slide fastener, the combination of a pair of flexible tapes, scoops on said tapes, a slider for meshing and unmeshing said scoops, a pin on the starting end of the second of said tapes, a block on the starting end of the first of said tapes, and a pin retainer case pivotally mounted on said block for releasably securing said pin, said block consisting of a pinlike member with wings engaging the sides of said case and offering resistance to pivotal movement of said case, said block having apertures which serve as a fulcrum for said case, and cooperating protuberances and concavities on said block and case which engage to restrain said case in pin retaining position.

2. In a slide fastener, the combination of a pair of exible tapes, scoops on said tapes, a slider for meshing and unmeshing said scoops. a pin on the starting end of one of said tapes, a block on the starting end of the other of said tapes, and a pin retainer case pivotally mounted on said block for releasably securing said pin, said block consisting of a pinlike member with wings for engagement with the sides of said case, said block having apertures which serve as a fulcrum for said case and protuberances which engage concavities on the sides of the case causing said case to snap in and out of pin retaining position, and said case having inwardly extending lugs which rlt into said apertures of said block to pivotally mount said case on said block.

BEN R. AUSTIN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,146,714 Austin Feb. 14, 1939 2,177,599 Murphy Oct. 24, 1939 2,325,305 Carlile July 27, 1943 2,423,202 Morin July 1, 1947 2,463,937 Austin Mar. 8, 1949 

